They knew full well Lian Yu's stance, yet they dared to reveal their clandestine plans to him, asking Lian Yu to help persuade Si Feng Wu to name a crown prince unrelated to himself.
No matter how one looked at it, this was not something a person with a functioning brain would do.
Those in the court were certainly not simple.
To take such a foolish action at the risk of being seen as an idiot, if one said there was no ulterior motive, not even a ghost would believe it.
Regardless of the conspiracy the Qin faction was plotting, the matter of Lu Qing Wan and Lian Yu becoming sworn siblings and the grand reopening of the Lu Manor were officially put on the agenda.
Early in the morning, Li Su meticulously dressed Lu Qing Wan and had her board the most luxurious carriage from the palace.
Lu Qing Wan allowed herself to be adorned like a puppet. It wasn't until they were leaving the palace and she hadn't seen Si Feng Wu that she proactively asked, "Where is His Highness?
Isn't he joining us?"
"His Highness and the strategist went to the manor early this morning to prepare.
According to Li Yang, Elder Wen, Elder Chi, and Prime Minister Nan have also arrived.
Oh, yesterday after we returned from Xiangguo Temple, His Highness had Li Jin widely distribute invitations. Today, court officials and their wives will all be present.
This is the first time the Princess Consort has appeared before the officials since the calamity of Huo Luan. His Highness is truly giving the Princess Consort face!"
In reality, merely reopening the Lu Manor did not necessitate inviting so many people to witness the ceremony.
However, Lu Qing Wan, an orphan, becoming Empress meant countless people were gossiping about her behind her back, wishing for her demise.
Si Feng Wu intended to show everyone that as long as he was present, Lu Qing Wan was not a helpless orphan.
He could bestow upon Lu Qing Wan a prestigious family background, a wealthy lineage, and abundant fortune.
Lu Qing Wan's slender hand brushed aside the golden hairpin hanging by her ear, "He's afraid I'll find the position of Empress too troublesome and abandon him to live a carefree life on my own."
With that, she sat upright in the carriage and signaled Li Su to board.
The latter, suppressing a smile, boarded the carriage and sat on the ottoman inside, chuckling, "The position of Empress does indeed come with many troubles, but aren't these troubles already being resolved by His Highness for the Princess Consort?
If His Highness works a little harder now, when he ascends the throne, the Princess Consort will no longer be burdened by the Empress's duties and can do whatever she pleases, just like before?"
Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled and shifted to a new topic.
"When the Princess Consort reopens the Lu Manor, the strategist will surely be registered under Marquis Lu.
However, there is another person who wishes to join the Lu family. They specifically asked me to inquire if the Lu family could accept another member?"
Not many people could contact Li Su and dare to make such a request.
Lu Qing Wan pondered for a moment and narrowed down the possibilities, "Is it Wen Ru Ge or Lu Qian Huang?"
Lu Qian Huang had long since changed her surname to Lu and would be a natural fit for the Lu family.
As for Wen Ru Ge, a noble daughter of a prime minister, who was sold into a brothel for several months. Although she had returned home, she feared that someone might exploit her disgraceful past to tarnish the Wen family's centuries-old reputation, and thus had not left her home for months.
Coincidentally, Lu Qing Wan was reopening the Lu Manor, so it was not impossible for Wen Ru Ge to seek a fresh start by joining the Lu family.
These were two individuals Lu Qing Wan had genuinely helped and who held gratitude towards her, so it was not surprising that Li Su brought them up.
She replied calmly, "It's Lu Qian Huang.
She is now a thousand-household officer in the Capital's Vermilion Bird Battalion.
Upon hearing that the Princess Consort was reopening the Lu Manor, she entrusted a general from the Xuan Jia Army to ask you."
As Li Su spoke, she handed Lu Qing Wan a letter. "This is a letter Lu Qian Huang wrote to her subordinate. She only wanted her subordinate to probe the Princess Consort's intentions. If the Princess Consort was unwilling, she would pretend she never mentioned it."
Lu Qing Wan took the letter and read it. Lu Qian Huang stated in the letter that she was concerned about Lu Qing Wan being bullied and wished for a legitimate status to protect her.
Furthermore, even if she joined the Lu family, she would not require any special treatment from Lu Qing Wan and would never use her position for personal gain.
Her words were stern, sincere, and thoughtful, truly touching.
However, Lu Qing Wan immediately tore the letter to shreds and tossed it into the waste bin inside the carriage.
Li Su looked confused. "Then, Princess Consort, how should I reply to her?"
Lu Qing Wan meticulously rubbed her fingers, her gaze chilling slightly as she looked at Li Su. "Reply to what?
Do you not remember what I told Lu Qian Huang when she left Tian Xuan City?
Could an ordinary thousand-household officer get a letter to me?
The Xuan Jia Army, the Northern Army Cavalry, the Zhen Guo Army… I have helped many people.
Among them are countless individuals who became ten-thousand-household marquises, cloud-escorting generals, and grand marshals. Do they not feel grateful?
Why don't they have such timely information, knowing I'm opening a manor?
Why don't they want to join my Lu family to protect me?
Is she, Lu Qian Huang, so special?"
Li Su had merely been entrusted with a request. Believing Lu Qing Wan and Lu Qian Huang had a good relationship, she had delivered the letter.
After being harshly reprimanded by Lu Qing Wan, she realized that the reopening of the Lu Manor was intended to be a surprise gift for Lu Qing Wan from Si Feng Wu.
For this surprise, Si Feng Wu had not even used his own people but had specifically asked Shen Tang Zhou to bring his men back to make the arrangements.
If Si Feng Wu himself hadn't mentioned it that day, even his close confidantes wouldn't have known about his intentions.
Yet, it had only been three days since Si Feng Wu spoke of reopening the Lu Manor.
One must know that Lu Qian Huang's Vermilion Bird Battalion was located in the southern suburbs of the new capital, and when not on campaign, they underwent fully enclosed training.
Even so, Lu Qian Huang was able to learn of Lu Qing Wan reopening the Lu Manor and deliver such a letter to Li Su.
Who would believe that there wasn't something fishy going on?
Realizing this, Li Su lowered her head in self-reproach. "I was too careless. I will go to the Dark Hall to receive my punishment when I return tonight.
But, Princess Consort, Lu Qian Huang does seem somewhat suspicious. Should we send someone to investigate?"
"She is someone I chose. I don't want to waver in my trust in her repeatedly.
Send Yun Ying directly. Question her from the channels through which she obtained information, and the entire process of her entrusting someone to deliver the letter to you, get it all cleared up.
If Lu Qian Huang herself is restless and trying to take shortcuts, then consider me to have misjudged her. You don't need to tell me anything further; just deal with her directly for leaking secrets.
If someone deliberately orchestrated this, then it needs to be thoroughly investigated."
Lu Qian Huang, during her life, had served as the Princess of Xiliang, the General of Xiliang, and the Empress of Xiliang. Her face was familiar to many.
Lu Qing Wan was not surprised that someone had discovered her identity and was trying to exploit it.
However, in her view, this should have been a test of Lu Qian Huang's rebirth, not a test for herself.
These people, for whatever reason, had dared to approach her, which was rather displeasing.
If she didn't investigate thoroughly, she would be letting their meticulous scheming go unpunished.
Li Su had displeased Lu Qing Wan early in the morning and was feeling quite dejected. After instructing someone to relay Lu Qing Wan's task to Yun Ying, she became withdrawn.
It wasn't until the carriage stopped before a luxurious manor that she put on a professional smile, alighted, and greeted Lu Qing Wan, "Princess Consort, we have arrived at the Lu Manor."